Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus) lives in temperate forests across Europe and Asia. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Whiskered Bat
- When hunting, whiskered bats emit ultrasonic calls that sweep from 34 kHz up to 102 kHz, concentrating most energy at 53 kHz, each pulse lasting an average of 3.0 ms. Those rapid, high-frequency chirps act like a sonar scanner, painting a detailed picture of tiny insects fluttering nearby. the bat can detect prey.
- Whiskered bats are social: winter roosts can hold up to 100 individuals, while maternity colonies in May gather 20 to 70 females who raise a single pup each year. Males stay solitary. Though most individuals stay near their birthplace, the longest recorded journey spans 240 km.
- In the wild, whiskered bats live on average 3.5 years, yet some individuals have survived more than 19 years, showing remarkable longevity for such a small mammal. Coupled with its wide distribution and lack of major threats, the IUCN rates the species as Least Concern, meaning it currently faces no imminent risk of extinction. This resilience highlights their role as a surprisingly durable component of Europe's insect-controlling workforce.
- At just 3.5-4.8 cm long, with a 21-24 cm wingspan and a feather-light 4-8 g body, the whiskered bat fits in the palm of a child's hand.
- The whiskered bat's range stretches from the far-west of the United Kingdom across mainland Europe to the Urals, with isolated records as far south as Morocco. It thrives in forests, meadows, semi-deserts and, surprisingly, urban parks.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeEurope and Asia
HabitatTemperate forests
DietInsects and spiders
About the Whiskered Bat
As dusk descends, the whiskered bat emerges, its delicate form silhouetted against the fading light as it takes to the evening skies with a flutter of leathery wings. With an effortless elegance, it dances through the air, its long, sensitive whiskers twitching as it navigates the intricate web of sound and shadow that guides its nocturnal hunt. In this fleeting, crepuscular world, the whiskered bat reigns supreme, its very existence a testament to the magic that unfolds at the threshold of night and day.
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